Warm Cloak From an Old Blanket

I love cloaks and capes! They are so cute and remind me of gnomes and other mysteriousness. And They are Easy to make!

Why did I say "they"? Because you can make a lot of them!

Trawl your local thrift shop for a good warm blanket. If you find a woollen one, that is wonderful! I didn't, so I used an acrylic one. Wash the blanket and then it is ready to transform into something new and warm- a cloak!

The pattern is made from a hoodie that fits on the person you are making it for. But it has a lot of give! I originally made this for a girl but instead her older brother wore it.

To make the pattern you will need:

-A hoodie that fits the person you are making the cloak for.

-Paper, pen, ruler, and a measuring tape.

To make the cloak you will need:

-Warm blanket, preferably wool but mine was from acrylic.

-Sewing machine, pins (I used a sewing machine, but you can hand-sew the seams)

Place hoodie over paper. Tuck the hood carefully inside. This will be the back piece of the cloak.

Trace a basic cloak silhouette.

Cut out the pattern, fold in half, and cut out the half you like better.

Write down reminder for seam allowance.

The back piece is made.

Tape the back piece on another piece of paper.

Trace it and then add extra 5 cm on the side. You can see this in the photo. (This will be for the fastening)

Make the neck deeper then in the back. Cut out the piece.

This is the front piece.

I love the hood, because you can shape it how you want.

But first trace the basic silhouette. Notice how the neckline is uneven. It is important to copy the neckline form the hoodie.

Now you can change the shape of the hood just don't touch the neckline!

Cut out the pattern and add reminder for seam allowance.

Fold you blanket in half and lay the back piece with the straight side on the fold. The right sides would be inside while you trace pattern on the wrong side.

Measure out how long you want the cloak to be and extend the curved side. Don't make the curved side just straight down, look at the second photo to see how my line looks.

Add seam allowance, depending on how much you will need.

Cut out.

Place front pattern on folded blanket but not on a fold. The right sides would be inside while you trace pattern on the wrong side.

Put the cut back piece over the front to make sure they are identical in the curve and length. Trace the curve.

Take the back piece off and trace the neckline of the front pattern and the extra 5 cm.

Add seam allowance. Cut out the two front pieces.

Place the hood pattern on folded blanket.Trace and add seam allowance all around the hood.

I made the tip larger. Again, you can make the hood any shape you want, but don't touch the neckline.

Now, it is time to get sewing.

Place the two front pieces over the back with right sides together.

Stitch down the sides.

Pin the hood pieces with right sides together. Stitch the two sides as you can see in the photo.

Fold over the about 1.5 cm on the sides of the opening. Stitch.

Position the about middle of the hood with the about middle of the back of the cloak. Pin together and sew.

Finish the leftover edges of the front piece by folding over and stitching.

Finish the two open front sides by folding our and stitching.

I used a hook-and-loop fastener because it is easy to sew on and is not visible from the outside.

I hand-stitched the strips on. Also I sewed a cute button on the outside; it is purely for decorative purposes.

Of course, your favourite fastener can be used.